Connecting people to Jesus and one another. The weekly audio podcast of Southeast Christian Church in Louisville Kentucky. Featuring Senior Minister Dave Stone and Teaching Minister Kyle Idleman.
The Gospel of Matthew begins this way, "This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham" (Matthew 1:1). That's how Matthew begins the Christmas story. But here's the question: why does he start with a list of names? The New Testament doesn't have a "Once upon a time" beginning. Instead Matthew gives us a list of names to establish the historical legitimacy of the Christmas story. But there's more to it than that. These names aren't just the people Jesus came from; they're also the kinds of people Jesus came for. And Matthew knows that.